We cannot afford to keep Howard.

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Quite right GT.
It even disputable that we \&quot;can\&quot; afford to keep him. We have only 4 mil (roughly) left under the cap, if my calculations are close. We may actually need all of that (and possibly more) for our ...

It even disputable that we \"can\" afford to keep him. We have only 4 mil (roughly) left under the cap, if my calculations are close. We may actually need all of that (and possibly more) for our rookie signings this year. If that is the case, we can\'t even \"\"can\" afford\" Howard (wow, that sentence sucked, didn\'t it).

JKool is probably right about our affordability -- that probably is one of the main reasons why teams are playing hardball in their trade offers. They realize that we are at their mercy because we need to dump him -- its a shame really -0- when we cannot afford a pro bowl DE.

JKool is probably right about our affordability -- that probably is one of the main reasons why teams are playing hardball in their trade offers. They realize that we are at their mercy because we need to dump him -- its a shame really -0- when we cannot afford a pro bowl DE.

But see the thing is we don\'t need to afford him since we have Will Smith waiting in the wings. Our team can\'t afford a luxury. We need to have a more complete team, and we will have that if we deal Howard.

[quote
But see the thing is we don\'t need to afford him since we have Will Smith waiting in the wings. Our team can\'t afford a luxury. We need to have a more complete team, and we will have that if we deal Howard. [/quote:f603df36a2]

Oh -- I completely agree -- but should we take a terrible deal just to get rid of him -- I don\'t want to do that and I think that teams are thinking we will because we can\'t afford him -- that was my point. I have always felt that our team has too many holes to keep an extra starter

To our advantage, there are some teams that will have to compete with each other to get Howard. Thus, his cost doesn\'t make it such that we have to merely give him away - since even if we were to simply put him out there, there would still be a bit of a bidding war on him.

even if we were to simply put him out there, there would still be a bit of a bidding war on him.

I\'m admittedly a bit surprised there isn\'t more interest in Howard (at least not publicly). Given the clamoring last offseason surrounding Wistrom (who is no better than Howard, but drew a major contract) and Kearse (who had previously had his own injury problems), I sorta thought we\'d have no shortage of suitors wanting to trade for Howard. I wonder if the Saints are asking too much for him?

Then again, all this stuff could change on a dime. I expect more rumors as the draft approaches (if not on draft day itself).

There are five teams interested in Howard. My guess is they\'re trying to see how much they need him given the draft is pending or if some will drop out of the hunt, which might effectively lower his price. There are also some health concerns regarding Howard.

Eitherway, you don\'t think a 2nd rounder, which is his rumored cost is too much for Howard, do you Mutey?

There is some mixed feelings concerning the trade. Almost all agree that a 1st is too much, except for one guy who pointed out all the years and lost draft picks the Cowboys have wasted on finding that DE.
Some feel that a 2nd would work, some don\'t. Those that don\'t either mentioned that Jones might be offering a 2nd from next years draft, or, a 3rd and a player (if Jones offers any pick from next years draft, it better be the 1st, in my opinion).

even if deuces contract doesnt expire till after 2006 we still have ony this season to resign him. i mean it does give us this season but he isnt going to play next season without a contract. i wouldnt if i was him. but either way it would help us to deal howard. i think we will deal him on draft day. just what i believe. should be a lot of room for dealing then